Government is committed to geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste, coupled with safe and secure interim storage and a geological disposal facility siting process based on voluntarism and partnership.
Government has set up the Geological Disposal Implementation Board (GDIB), chaired by the Minister of Energy, to provide senior level oversight of the implementation programme as well as enabling stakeholders to provide input to, or to have observation of, the programme.
The Board will meet 2-3 times per year and will provide increased visibility of the programme and make clear programme responsibilities and accountabilities. It aims to facilitate dialogue in order to:
- Advise Government on the successful implementation of geological disposal for higher activity radioactive wastes
- Foster better shared understanding of the issues involved as the programme develops and moves forwards
- Ensure DECC is aware of the views of key stakeholders on the geological disposal implementation programme
Bring challenge and hold DECC to account for delivery of its programme of work set out in the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely White Paper 2008 and now reported on annually to Parliament
Terms of reference
Terms of reference, agreed at the first meeting, and a list of participating organisations can be found below:
Timeline
Government has also developed a clear, high-level timeline for the programme which was presented to the first GDIB. This describes the key steps since the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme was launched as well as setting out indicative timescales and milestones leading to the estimated first consignment of waste to a geological disposal facility in 2040. Government will keep the timeline and milestones under review and update them whenever required.
Meetings
Minutes of GDIB and presentations given at the meeting will be published below following each meeting.
6 December 2011
28 June 2011 meeting
30 November 2010 meeting